At 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Nguyen Trai Street was packed with vehicles.
To alleviate the congestion, Hanoi's Traffic Police Department deployed officers even during non-peak midday hours, ensuring 100% of personnel were on duty to manage high-traffic areas.
On Tuesday, both the elevated Ring Road No. 3 and the ground-level Khuat Duy Tien Street in Thanh Xuan District were similarly gridlocked.
On Monday, traffic along the Thang Long Highway, approaching the elevated Ring Road 3, crawled at a snail's pace.
Traffic on Truong Chinh Street near the Air Defense-Air Force Museum inched forward at around 6:30 p.m.
Some motorists resorted to driving on sidewalks—despite potential penalties under Decree 168—to escape the jam. The decree, effective from Jan. 1, stipulates fines of VND4-6 million (US$157-236) for driving on sidewalks, 10 times higher than those under the previous regulations.
In Ho Chi Minh City, rising travel demand two weeks before the Lunar New Year, which peaks on Jan. 29, has also led to persistent traffic jams on major routes near Tan Son Nhat airport, shopping centers, and downtown areas.
On Jan. 13, vehicles heading toward Tan Son Nhat packed onto Hoang Hoa Tham Bridge and spilled over onto Cong Hoa Street in Tan Binh District, causing cars and motorbikes to inch forward.
Data from the city's Department of Transport show a 2.8–11.4% increase in traffic volume around the airport and in Binh Thanh District compared to the same period last year, resulting in severe congestion. Overall, traffic at city gateways has risen by 10%, while congestion in central areas has surged by 17%, significantly hindering residents' commutes.
Minh Hoa, a 50-year-old public bus driver, voiced his frustration over the early onset of congestion.
In previous years, the city's downtown area would only be congested 10 days ahead of the Lunar New Year.
This year, it started much earlier, he said.
On Chau Van Liem Street in District 5—famous for its numerous Tet decoration shops—parked vehicles worsened the traffic jams as shoppers stopped to browse and make purchases.
In District 1, drivers faced standstill traffic on key shopping thoroughfares, including Dong Khoi, Le Thanh Ton, and Ton Duc Thang. Prolonged jams left vehicles barely moving, forcing residents to endure significantly longer commutes.
Motorcyclist Long, who commutes from District 1 to Binh Thanh near Binh Loi Bridge, said his usual 25-minute ride now takes twice as long. "Both morning and evening commutes are plagued by extended traffic jams," he said.
Construction and repairs have further compounded the issue. On Dinh Bo Linh Street in Binh Thanh District, parked vehicles on sidewalks have forced pedestrians to walk alongside dense motorbike traffic, intensifying safety concerns and congestion.
Traffic jams stretched nearly 2 kilometers on Dinh Bo Linh Street on Tuesday morning.
In response, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh directed the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Transport, and the municipal administrations of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City on Monday to implement scientific and rational traffic management solutions aimed at swiftly addressing congestion in both cities.
